Golf bag with camera/phone holding devices

ABSTRACT

A golf bag with a retractable arm/stick assembly is provided. The retractable arm/stick assembly includes a retractable arm/stick moveable between an extended position extend from a golf bag and retracted position within the golf bag. A hinge may be coupled on one end of the retractable arm/stick. A camera or a mount for a user computing device couple to an opposing end, wherein the retractable arm/stick is rotatable about the hinge in the extended position and extends above a height of golf clubs carried in the golf bag. Other embodiments include a retractable flexible arm/stick that operates to orient the camera or user computing device without the need for a hinge but utilizing the flexible nature of the retractable flexible arm/stick. Further, embodiments may hold a camera and additional swing analysis devices in a location to obtain video of a golf swing along with ball impact/golf swing data for analyzing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[S]

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/297,535, filed Jan. 7, 2022, the disclosure of which are hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field

This invention relates generally to a golf bag and more particularly to a golf bag with a camera/phone holding devices for mounting a fixed camera or a removable camera or phone to the golf bag for recording video of a golf swing and/or utilization of swing analysis devices.

State of the Art

Golf is a difficult game and the golf swing is the most important aspect of a golfer's ability to hit a golf ball in the direction and in the way the golfer intends to hit the ball. Even small variations or nuances in a swing can affect the golf shot, such as trajectory, spin on the golf ball, direction the ball is hit, the contact of the club head with the ball and so forth. Being able to view a one's own golf swing as it happens can be a valuable tool to improve one's golf game. There lacks a system to easily provide the ability to record video of a golfer's golf swing during a round of golf. This can be important information to gather because elements that affect a golfer's swing can be captured that is not possible in room with a camera hitting into a net. For example, effects of fatigue, ball lie, course conditions, weather conditions and so forth can potentially affect the swing of a golfer.

Accordingly, there is a need for a golf bag with a camera/phone holding devices for mounting a fixed camera or a removable camera or phone to the golf bag to record the swing of a golfer as she/he plays a round of golf for recording video of a golf swing and/or utilization of swing analysis devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a golf bag with a camera/phone holding devices for mounting a fixed camera or a removable camera or phone to the golf bag to record and/or analyze the swing of a golfer as she/he plays a round of golf.

An embodiment includes a golf bag with a camera/phone holding device, the device comprising: a retractable arm/stick moveable between an extended position extend from a golf bag and retracted position within the golf bag; a hinge coupled on one end of the retractable arm/stick; and a camera or a mount for a user computing device couple to an opposing end, wherein the retractable arm/stick is rotatable about the hinge in the extended position and extends above a height of golf clubs carried in the golf bag.

Another embodiment includes a golf bag with a camera/phone holding device, the device comprising: a retractable flexible arm/stick moveable between an extended position extend from a golf bag and retracted position within the golf bag; and a camera or a mount for a user computing device couple to an opposing end, wherein the retractable flexible arm/stick is moveable to various positions and orientations in the extended position and extends above a height of golf clubs carried in the golf bag.

Another embodiment includes a golf bag with a camera/phone holder device, the device comprising: a swivel container having a clear surface coupled to a golf bag with a pivot device; and a camera or a user computing device received and retained within the swivel container and viewable through the clear surface, wherein the swivel container swivels about the pivot device by gravitational force acting on the swivel container to maintain the swivel container and the phone in an upright position regardless of orientation of the golf bag.

Yet another embodiment includes A golf bag with a ball impact/swing analysis assembly, the assembly comprising: a retractable ball impact/swing analysis device coupled to a golf bag, the ball impact/swing analysis device moveable between an extended position extend from a golf bag and retracted position within the golf bag; and a mount for a user computing device, wherein the mount retains the user computing device adjacent the ball impact/swing analysis device.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the Figures, and:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf bag with a retractable arm/stick with a fixed camera according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a golf bag with a retractable arm/stick with a user computing device mounted to arm/stick according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a golf bag with a retractable arm/stick for use with a user computing device or a fixed camera according to an embodiment

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a golf bag with a retractable flexible arm/stick with a fixed camera according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a golf bag with a retractable flexible arm/stick with a user computing device mounted to arm/stick according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a golf bag with a retractable flexible arm/stick stored in a pocket of the golf bag according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a golf bag with a retractable arm/stick with a user computing device mounted to arm/stick with the user computing device in a low position according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a golf bag with a retractable flexible arm/stick with a user computing device mounted to arm/stick with the user computing device in a low position according to an embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a golf bag with a swivel container with a user computing device retained within the swivel container according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a golf bag with a retractable ball impact and swing analysis device with a mount for a user computing device according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a golf bag with a retractable arm/stick for mounting a fixed camera or a removable camera or phone to the retractable arm/stick to record and/or analyze the swing of a golfer as she/he plays a round of golf.

FIGS. 1-8 depict various embodiments of a golf bag 50 with a camera/phone holding device 10. With each embodiment shown, the device 10 may be used with a fixed camera or configured with a holder to use with a user computing device 30. Additionally, embodiments may be utilized to hold or include a swing analysis device, thereby allowing a golfer to not only capture video of his or her swing, but to gather ball impact/swing data. Further still, embodiments allow a golfer to engage in social media interaction allowing the golfer to record and post videos of his or her golf shot and to do so alone and independent of another person running a camera.

Referring to FIG. 1 , an embodiment includes a golf bag 50 with a camera/phone holding device 10. The device 10 may include a retractable arm/stick 12 that extends in and out of a golf bag 50, such as along direction indicated by directional arrow 40. A fixed camera 20 may be coupled to an end of the retractable arm/stick 12. The other end of the retractable arm/stick 12 may be coupled to a hinge 14 allowing the retractable arm/stick 12 to rotate back and forth with respect to the hinge 14 along a direction indicated by directional arrow 42. The hinge 14 may be a friction type hinge wherein the retractable arm/stick 12 can be held in place in any orientation with respect to the hinge 14. In this embodiment, the length of the retractable arm/stick 12 is long enough to extend beyond the height of golf clubs 52 carried within the golf bag 50 in order to avoid the golf clubs 52 interfering with the view of the camera 20 and obstructing the video or photos taken of the golfer during a golf swing. It also assures that the height is such that it will capture the entire golf swing. In these embodiments, the camera 20 may be coupled to a user computing device 30 such as a mobile phone or a tablet. This coupling may be a wireless connection such as Bluetooth, WiFi, other wireless connections or may be a wired connection. The video(s) captured by the camera 20 may be stored on the device 30. In some embodiments, the camera 20 has sufficient memory to store the capture video(s) until they can be downloaded to another device.

Referring to FIG. 2 , and embodiment includes a golf bag with a camera/phone holding device 10. The device 10 may include a retractable arm/stick 12 that extends in and out of a golf bag 50, such as along direction indicated by directional arrow 40. A mount 18 may be coupled to an end of the retractable arm/stick 12 and be utilized to hold a user computing device 30 that comprises a camera within the mount 18. The other end of the retractable arm/stick 12 may be coupled to a hinge 14 that is coupled to an end of a base rod 16, allowing the retractable arm/stick 12 to rotate back and forth with respect to the hinge 14 along a direction indicated by directional arrow 42. The hinge 14 may be a friction type hinge wherein the retractable arm/stick 12 can be held in place in any orientation with respect to the hinge 14. In this embodiment, the length of the retractable arm/stick 12 is long enough to extend beyond the height of golf clubs 52 carried within the golf bag 50 in order to avoid the golf clubs 52 interfering with the view of the camera of user computing device 30 and obstructing the video or photos taken of the golfer during a golf swing.

FIG. 3 depicts a top view of the golf bag 50 according to embodiments. The golf bag 50 may include a recess 54 a for use with the retractable arm/stick 12, wherein the retractable arm/stick 12 my move into and out of the recess 54 a. This recess may be utilized for embodiments with a fixed camera 20. In embodiments with a mount 18 for a phone, the recess 54 a may also include an upper recess 54 b that is sized and shaped to receive the mount 18 within the upper recess 54 b as the retractable arm/stick 12 is moved into the recess 54 a. This allows the retractable arm/stick 12 and a mount 18 if utilized, to be moved from an extended/usable position extended from the bag 50 to a retracted/stored position with the retractable arm/stick 12 and mount 18 within the bag 50 and out of the way.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6 , an embodiment includes a golf bag 50 with a camera/phone holding device 10. The device 10 may include a retractable flexible arm/stick 60 that extends in and out of a pocket 62 a golf bag 50. The retractable flexible arm/stick 60 may be folded or rolled up and put in a retracted/stored position within the pocket 62 of the bag 50 or may be moved to an extended/useable position extended out of the pocket 62 and into a user determined position. A fixed camera 20 may be coupled to an end of the retractable flexible arm/stick 60. The other end of the retractable flexible arm/stick 60 may be coupled the golf bag 50 within the pocket 62. The retractable flexible arm/stick 60 allow for orienting the camera at various heights ad orientations that are needed to capture the video or photos desired of the golf swing. In this embodiment, the length of retractable flexible arm/stick 60 is long enough to extend beyond the height of golf clubs 52 carried within the golf bag 50 in order to avoid the golf clubs 52 interfering with the view of the camera 20 and obstructing the video or photos taken of the golfer during a golf swing. It also assures that the height is such that it will capture the entire golf swing. In these embodiments, the camera 20 may be coupled to a user computing device 30 such as a mobile phone or a tablet. This coupling may be a wireless connection such as Bluetooth, WiFi, other wireless connections or may be a wired connection. The video(s) captured by the camera 20 may be stored on the device 30. In some embodiments, the camera 20 has sufficient memory to store the capture video(s) until they can be downloaded to another device.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 , an embodiment includes a golf bag 50 with a camera/phone holding device 10. The device 10 may include a retractable flexible arm/stick 60 that extends in and out of a pocket 62 a golf bag 50. The retractable flexible arm/stick 60 may be folded or rolled up and put in a retracted/stored position within the pocket 62 of the bag 50 or may be moved to an extended/useable position extended out of the pocket 62 and into a user determined position. A user computing device 30 with a camera may be coupled to a mount 64 that is coupled to an end of the retractable flexible arm/stick 60. The other end of the retractable flexible arm/stick 60 may be coupled the golf bag 50 within the pocket 62. The retractable flexible arm/stick 60 allow for orienting the user computing device 30 at various heights ad orientations that are needed to capture the video or photos desired of the golf swing. In this embodiment, the length of retractable flexible arm/stick 60 is long enough to extend beyond the height of golf clubs 52 carried within the golf bag 50 in order to avoid the golf clubs 52 interfering with the view of the camera of user computing device 30 and obstructing the video or photos taken of the golfer during a golf swing.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 9 , provided is a golf bag 50 with a camera/phone holding device 10, wherein the device is a swivel container 70. The swivel container 70 may have a clear surface allowing viewing of the screen of the user computing device 30 and further the clear surface of the swivel container 70 may allow for touch interaction with the screen of the user computing device 30. The swivel container may include a pivot device 72, that may be coupled to the bag 50, such as directly to the bag 50, coupled to a snap of the bag 50, coupled to a ring of the bag 50 or manufactured as part of the bag 50. The pivot device 72 operates to support the swivel container 70 with the phone 30 within the swivel container 70. As a golf bag may be oriented in different ways during a round of golf, gravity acts on the swivel container and allows the container 70 to swivel about pivot device 72, such as along path designated by directional arrow 74, to always position the swivel container 70 and the phone 30 in an upright position or desired position for recording a video of a golf swing. It will be understood that the swivel container 70 may be water proof or water resistant for utilization in adverse weather conditions, such as rain.

In some embodiments, it may be advantageous for a camera or user computing device to be positioned near a ground surface. In this position, other devices, such as ball impact and swing analysis devices may be coupled to the retractable arm/stick 12 or retractable flexible arm/stick 60. While some ball impact and swing analysis devices may be operable from a height shown in FIGS. 1-6 , many operate from a ground or near ground level. FIGS. 7 and 8 depict embodiments of such configurations. These configurations operate in the same manner as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-6 , but with positioning of the camera 20 or user computing device 30 in a low, near ground position. For example, FIG. 7 depicts the embodiment shown and described in FIGS. 1-3 . The retractable arm/stick 12 in this embodiment may be telescopic allowing it to extend the camera 20 or user computing device 30 to a location near a ground surface. The operation of the retractable flexible arm/stick 12 and other components is the same as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-3 . In another example, FIG. 8 depicts the embodiment shown and described in FIGS. 4-6 . The retractable flexible arm/stick 60 in this embodiment may be bent or otherwise oriented to extend the camera 20 or user computing device 30 to a location near a ground surface.

With additional reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 , the drawings depict a user computing device 30 such as a phone. However, in embodiments the phone may be operating swing analysis software. In other embodiments, a ball impact and/or swing analysis device may be coupled to the mount 18 or mount 64. This allows for collection of ball impact and swing data that may include, without limitation, like distance, ball speed, club head speed, club path, face angle, back spin, side spin, launch angle, side angle, angle of attack, lie & loft angles and any other ball impact or swing data that is utilized for analyzing the golf swing.

In embodiments, the user computing device 30 may coupled to a server through a network connection and videos or photos may be uploaded to the server automatically. Further, in instances with gathering ball impact and swing data, the gather data may also be uploaded the server. All of this video, photo and/or impact and swing data may be stored in the server and accessible for later analysis and comparison to see trends in swings, identify where to make changes and how the swing is affected by other factors.

Referring further to FIG. 10 , in come embodiments, the golf bag 50 may include a ball impact/swing analysis device 80 coupled to the bag 50, such as a retractable ball impact/swing analysis device 80 coupled to a base of the bag 50 to locate the ball impact/swing analysis device 80 near the ground surface. The ball impact/swing analysis device 80 may be moveable from a retracted/stored position within the bag or base of the bag 50 to an extended/useable position extending from, rotated to or other wise extended from the bag or base of the bag 50 as shown in FIG. 10 . In embodiments, the ball impact/swing analysis device 80 may include a mount for holding a user computing device 30 on the or adjacent the ball impact/swing analysis device 80. This allows for communication between the ball impact/swing analysis device 80 and the user computing device 30 and for both to be located in the same location. The phone 30 may be used to analyze data collected by the ball impact/swing analysis device 80 and/or the phone 30 may be utilized to record a video of the golfer's swing as the ball impact/swing analysis device 80 gathers ball impact and/or swing data. The ball impact and/or swing data may include, without limitation, distance, ball speed, club head speed, club path, face angle, back spin, side spin, launch angle, side angle, angle of attack, lie & loft angles and any other ball impact or swing data that is utilized for analyzing the golf swing.

Embodiments may be available on or through the internet, such as through domain names reserved and owned by Applicant that include selfiegolfbag.com, selfie-bag.com, sunmountainselfie.com or the like.

The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the forthcoming claims. 

1. A golf bag with a camera/phone holder device, the device comprising: a retractable arm/stick moveable between an extended position extend from a golf bag and retracted position within the golf bag; and a camera or a mount for a user computing device couple to an opposing end, wherein the retractable arm/stick is moveable to various positions and orientations in the extended position and extends above a height of golf clubs carried in the golf bag.
 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a hinge coupled on one end of the retractable arm/stick, wherein the retractable arm/stick is rotatable about the hinge in the extended position and extends above a height of golf clubs carried in the golf bag.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the retractable arm/stick is a flexible arm, wherein the retractable flexible arm/stick is moveable to various positions and orientations in the extended position and extends above a height of golf clubs carried in the golf bag.
 4. A golf bag with a camera/phone holder device, the device comprising: a swivel container having a clear surface coupled to a golf bag with a pivot device; and a camera or a user computing device received and retained within the swivel container and viewable through the clear surface, wherein the swivel container swivels about the pivot device by gravitational force acting on the swivel container to maintain the swivel container and the phone in an upright position regardless of orientation of the golf bag.
 5. A golf bag with a ball impact/swing analysis assembly, the assembly comprising: a retractable ball impact/swing analysis device coupled to a golf bag, the ball impact/swing analysis device moveable between an extended position extend from a golf bag and retracted position within the golf bag; and a mount for a user computing device, wherein the mount retains the user computing device adjacent the ball impact/swing analysis device. 